cir·cum·flex 
(sûr
k
əm-fl
ĕks
′)
n. Any of several marks, especially ( ^ ), used over a vowel in certain languages or in phonetic keys to indicate quality of pronunciation.
adj.1. Having this mark.
2. Curving around: a circumflex blood vessel.
[From Latin circumflexus, bent around, circumflex, past participle of circumflectere, to bend around : circum-, circum- + flectere, to bend.]